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Germany & Cyprus break ranks from EU vaccine rollout!

(68 Posts)
Urmstongran Tue 12-Jan-21 11:36:42

So much for unity eh?

“EU reminds members to toe the line on unilateral vaccine plan
The EU is struggling to keep countries aligned with its vaccine strategy, as governments start to break rank and seek side-deals for extra jabs.

The European Commission is now urging ministers to stick to the plan to negotiate unilaterally.

Last week, Germany ordered 30 million extra doses of the Pfizer vaccine on top of its allocation from the EU’s haul of 600 million jabs while Cyprus reportedly asked Israel for additional doses.”

‘I’m alright Jack springs to mind’.

I must admit to being somewhat surprised as Angela Merkel had, in a spirit of co-operation, handed Germany’s vaccination programme over to Brussels.

Who ordered the sneaky side deal then?

MayBee70 Tue 12-Jan-21 21:19:08

But it’s just a scientific way of describing things ie everything is named after the country where it was discovered. To be honest I think we’re all getting a bit tetchy. I know I am.

Urmstongran Tue 12-Jan-21 21:49:35

Wrong words used by Merkel. I bet she regrets them, in hindsight. It was easily done.

I think she ought to have said the virus ‘identified by British scientists’. Because that’s what it was. Our stellar genome boffins are second to none and extrapolated it first.
?

vegansrock Tue 12-Jan-21 22:02:30

I’m not sure why people are objecting to the virus identified and first spread throughout the U.K. as the “British virus”, I’m sure they talk about Spanish flu and the British vaccine ( even when these are not wholly acculturate) not to mention the insults hurled at “the French” or “the Germans”. Our “stellar scientists” are not wholly British either, they are a truly international bunch.

Ellianne Tue 12-Jan-21 22:07:56

Yes, it's as unlikely the Spanish flu came from Spain as German Measles did from Germany!

SueDonim Tue 12-Jan-21 22:22:32

The WHO is suggesting a new naming system for variants in order to avoid stigmatising countries.
www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/calls-new-names-covid-variants-avoid-country-stigma/

Ellianne Tue 12-Jan-21 22:28:04

Interesting article SueD, dankeschön.

GillT57 Tue 12-Jan-21 23:39:30

Was just trying to throw what I thought was a bit of relevant humour into the conversation pippaz. Obviously a mistake

Callistemon Wed 13-Jan-21 00:10:42

PippaZ as you are a newcomer to Gransnet, perhaps posters need to get used to your style of posting and you to theirs

Anyway, welcome.

vegansrock Wed 13-Jan-21 07:55:31

It’s rather telling that when the BBC were looking for a British scientist to support Brexit ( in the interests of “balance”) they couldn’t find a single one. Most of the labs, academic departments, pharmaceutical companies etc in the U.K. are international in the best sense of the word.

Urmstongran Wed 13-Jan-21 08:37:46

Perhaps they were all busy vegansrock. Don’t try insinuating all our scientists are from the EU. Fake news!

vegansrock Wed 13-Jan-21 08:42:05

Don’t try to insinuate all scientists in the U.K. are British- fake news urmstongran I said they were international - not all from the EU - AstroZenica is run by a Frenchman, scientists working there are from all over the world.

Urmstongran Wed 13-Jan-21 08:49:52

Look it’s too early in a morning to be argumentative! I don’t disagree it’s an international concern. Just under the auspices of a British laboratory.

Many EU scientists have chosen to stay in the UK rather than return to Europe. I can’t remember why but I did read an article about it a few weeks ago.

Let’s just agree that ‘scientists in Britain’ discovered the new variant first. Clever people & hats off to them (all).

MayBee70 Wed 13-Jan-21 10:34:38

Why wasn’t the new variant contained better though, given that it was known that infection rates were rising in the SE and the new variant had been discovered.

PippaZ Wed 13-Jan-21 19:57:34

Callistemon

PippaZ as you are a newcomer to Gransnet, perhaps posters need to get used to your style of posting and you to theirs

Anyway, welcome.

I am sure you are right Callistemon. I also think I should not post when I am tired smile

MayBee70 Wed 13-Jan-21 20:02:40

I like your posts Pippa.

PippaZ Wed 13-Jan-21 22:06:01

Thank you MayBee70 smile

Callistemon Wed 13-Jan-21 23:32:46

I also think I should not post when I am tired

I'm sure you're right. I just posted a load of drivel on the geography thread.
So I'm going to log off now.